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Indian Garden Restaurant

3.5 star rating
based on 115 reviews

Categories: Indian, Pakistani  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River East
247 E Ontario St # 2
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-4910
Nearest Transit:

Grand (Red)

Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

115 reviews for Indian Garden Restaurant

Review Highlights   

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"Awesome chicken tikka masala and garlic naan." (in 9 reviews)
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"Their food is great, and the lunch buffet is awesome." (in 28 reviews)
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"plus fresh, tasty naan and some sizzling hot tandoori chicken." (in 35 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Jef B.

Elite '09

45

315

Jef B.

Homewood, IL

4 star rating
11/8/2009

Summary: I wanted to give Indian Garden 5 stars for the food and ambience, but I have to strike it back to 4 for lackluster service.

Quick note: the only way to get to this restaurant is up several flights of stairs. May not be accessible to the handicapped, elderly or people with health issues.

Ambience was of a quality I never see at a Devon Indian restaurant. Many ingenious uses of candles, great view from window-front tables, a very comfortable place to wait for your table with pillows and magazines to read. Indian nick-nacks and musical instruments everywhere, nice statuary. I felt instantly at ease.

Food was all excellent: temperature hot, well prepared, and properly Indian spicy. We had mango lassi and masala chai to drink. Appetizers were amazing: mirchi pakora and paneer pakora, both pakoras are frequently not on other restaurants' menus. Our entrees where the Bombay Kadhai Gosht and Paneer Bhurji. Just delicious. Kudos to the kitchen.

The downside was the service. We didn't seem to be assigned a single waiter. Somebody always came by to fill up on our water except for a long gap when we got no more water. A lady who appeared to be the owner or manager stopped by early in our meal to see how we were doing. Wait staff, whenever they came by, seemed lifeless and uninterested in what they were doing. Nobody smiled. They took my empty chai cup and never inquired if I might have wanted more chai. No wait staff ever seemed to want to stay at our table a single instant longer than they absolutely had to.

Maybe the weird service has something to do with the credit card slips. There is no separate line for tips on the credit card printout. Maybe the waiters get stiffed on tips as a result?

Bathrooms seem dirty and unmaintained, in contrast to the remainder of the restaurant.

When we are at Navy Pier next and looking for an alternative to the usual boring chains at the Pier, we will come back to Indian Gardens, but for the food not the service. This would be a 3 star restaurant if it weren't for the ambience and the food.

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Photo of Adjoa T.

 

4

26

Adjoa T.

New York, NY

5 star rating
11/6/2009

Dear Indian Garden,

I love you.

You were my first real experience with Indian food and I've been in love with you and Indian food ever since. Since that first time, I've been back a handful of times. You were even open on Christmas, and made for a wonderful dinner even though I had to be at work. Your owners are super nice and always very cordial and hospitable. Your prices can be a little high at times for my tastes, but they're definitely worth it. I've never had a dish I haven't liked. You're just that awesome.

I miss you now that I live in NYC, (but I'm not going to tell you that I may have found a replacement in Haveli ;X), but I promise I will visit soon!

Love,
Adjoa.

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Photo of Chanele B.

 

2

24

Chanele B.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
11/3/2009

We came in late one Friday night, about a half hour before close, and I'd like to think maybe that is why our experience suffered so much. We were helped promptly, but the waiters were not especially friendly and the food was not on par with other Indian restaurants I've been to, in Chicago or elsewhere. I love Indian food, and we seem to eat it in almost every city we visit, so I am not a newbie to the cuisine, and this was just a disappointment.

My friend and I eat Indian food regularly, and neither of us had ever had our dishes quite so spicy without directly asking for it. The waiter did not ask either of us if we wanted it spicy or mild, and in most Indian restaurants, if they don't ask, they prepare it in a mild-medium level. I am pretty good with spicy foods, but my paneer makhani (my favorite dish in the world) was almost inedible. My friend went with a relatively fool-proof dish of chicken tikka masala, and it was also firey hot. No one at the table ordered anything spicy specifically, aside from my fiance, who had lamb vindaloo which was only a shade or two hotter than my paneer and my friend's chicken.

Additionally, I was not impressed by the fact I was not offered a refill on my soda, which seems like a standard when you charge $2.00+ for a glass of soda that is mostly ice.

I'd like to think they were just irritated that people came in off the street just a half hour before closing and that is why our food was so off, but in a city with so many great Indian restaurants, I won't be going back to find out.

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Photo of Jack S.

 

0

4

Jack S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/21/2009

Indian Garden is definite quality.  Their vegetarian dishes are fantastic, their vegetarian thali has superb sauces, and even includes cheese, which sounds strange, but trust me, is quite delicious.  Their tandoori chicken is very juicy and well seasoned.  And the portions are huge.  I have never been able to finish a meal here, and I almost always finish my meals.  Lots of rice and naan.  Beautiful atmosphere.      

But there are a couple downsides.  One, the appetizer is a kind of crispy chip with sauces dish (which everyone gets included with their meal), which is not that good and too salty.  With the main courses being so fantastic, this dish sticks out like a sore thumb.  Another downside is the service which varies.  Your waiter might be good, but the hostess has an attitude, or vice versa.  Also it's a tad pricey for my tastes: at about 20 bucks a person (not including drinks).  Although lunch buffet might be more affordable.  

In all, if you're willing to pay a little more than usual and love Indian food, you have to go here.

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Photo of Edwin Q.

Elite '09

21

62

Edwin Q.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/22/2009

Nice Indian restaurant in downtown! Price is rite and their menu is huge. I went there for dinner so I can't rate their lunch buffet. It is legendary!!!
Wish the server asked if we wanted our food mild or spicy. I guess next time I'll have to ask them to add more spice on my dishes!
The place has a very nice decoration. They have a full bar and the service is very attentive and nice.
Did I forget to mention that their food is awesome??? Yes it is!!!

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Photo of Shana C.

Elite '09

46

155

Shana C.

Belfair, WA

3 star rating
8/31/2009

Ohhhhhgggooood I can't. Really. Reach. The. Keyboard. Food. Baby!.....uhhhhhhhhh

So there you have it.  The major reason I have stayed out of Indian Garden's rumored buffet is because ain't nobody needs to eat at an Indian buffet and then return to an upright position behind a computer screen.  Oy.

This place has lovely traditional decor, smells great, and meets expectations.  The buffet contained no mystery dishes (a plus for un-initiated white girls like me) AND they had a dish whose name I do not recall but which contained the god of all meats: Goat.  YUM-E.  There is also complimentary tandoori chicken and naan brought fresh to every table.  Both were home made and exactly how I'd wish them to be: spicy, juicy, tender, and smoky and fluffy with crisp edges and golden, respectively.

I'm not making sense. The food has intoxicated my sentence forming mental structures. I'm washing to mule my nut hulas.

It was a snap to get in and out of here in the allotted lunch time, we were seated right away, our water glasses attentively refilled every three sips, our dishes cleared quickly, our check brought promptly.  The only thing they forgot was the hand written note from the proprietor I requested which would have excused me from any further work today because I'm incubating the food baby of a lunch life time.  

Just glad I wore my roomy pants by chance today.

This is a great place to go if you want to claim incapacity to work, impress a business partner before clobbering him with a tandoori drum stick and grabbing his briefcase, or, dinner followed by a long walk and a nap.

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Photo of Tepring P.

Elite '09

15

81

Tepring P.

Somerville, MA

4 star rating
11/1/2009

We would like reservations for 5 please, no 8, wait 12, make that 13, opps sorry only 10 ok we have one more coming but she will be late..thank you soooo much. And by the way we all need separate checks so we can get reimbursed by the government, but alcohol doesn't count so do whatever you want with our bar tab....we're awful and yay this place was great! The food is RICH and plenty of it. Good tastes, spices with a little kick. I liked this place. And thank you soo much for being so accommodating

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Photo of jen t.

 

31

93

jen t.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/23/2009

PERFECT garlic naan, awesome twist on a veggie samosa that i hadn't run into before (with cheese in them?!), and delicious baigan bhartha (eggplant). The food here rules! They are great at getting the spice level right. Kind of weird that you have to order rice separately, though. A little pricey, and the staff ignored us a bunch/forgot things, but i didn't really care. It was completely worth it and I will definitely go back.

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Photo of Megan H.

 

12

24

Megan H.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 10/14/2009

Wow, HOTTEST VINDALOO EVVVEEERRR!!! Even the Chicken Tikka Masala was scorching! I couldn't believe it!  Usually I laugh when they casually remind me during the ordering process "Vindaloo is hot, ma'am, is that okay?"  HA! "Yep, perfect."  Well.. geez... I couldn't believe how hot this Vindaloo was.  I've had a lot of Indian food... I've had Vindaloo in Singapore, London (where Indian is the National Dish), Toronto, Australia, and Chicago... and I have to say Indian Garden is THE HOTTEST EVER!!!  It was lovely.  If you want HOT HOT HOT Indian food, GO HERE!!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    4/27/2009

    I really like it here... the food is always good and I the portions and price are great for the… Read more »

Photo of Flawed E.

 

4

43

Flawed E.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
Updated - 9/20/2009

I tried Indian Garden Restaurant again, this time for the lunch buffet.  I ate two platefuls of the Saag Paneer.  It was delicious.  I could barely fit the equally delicious battered fried mushrooms into my stomach.  

During our meal a group of 4 came in, one of whom was Indian.  I couldn't help but overhear him telling his companions how a particular dish should really be like this or really be like that.  My guess is that Indian Garden Restaurant does not serve food as it is served by beloved mothers back in India, but this does not make its food any less delicious.  Hang it up, you Indian Food Snobs!  This place serves solid food!

The waitstaff was attentive throughout the meal, and we received our check right as we were ready to go.  I'll be back for this buffet again!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    4/12/2009

    A friend and I decided to share one of the generously portioned entrees the other night at the… Read more »

Photo of Shelly M.

 

0

21

Shelly M.

Dearborn, MI

5 star rating
10/15/2009

Five stars is based on their lunch buffet!  I've been here a few times now,  this last time the food was even better than I remember.  The decor is very cool.  So far my favorite lunch buffet in the city.

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Photo of Ed A.

Elite '09

50

77

Ed A.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/1/2009

The Indian Garden restaurant was my introduction to Indian food. No other restaurant I've been to since has compared to the quality and taste.

I came after lunchtime and the restaurant was pretty empty.  The waitress, who was probably the owner, took me aside and explained Indian cuisine and what I could expect in the various menu selections.

It was a great introduction to Indian cuisine. All the food was terrific, from the Somoza, the bread and of course all the great sauces. I appreciated her allowing me to choose the level of heat and spice.

Great service, great restaurant, great food and great sauces. I gave this place four stars because I've yet to experience Devon Avenue.

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Photo of Johnny A.

 

2

25

Johnny A.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
8/6/2009

For a cheap all you can eat Indian Buffet (on tuesdays there are lots of vegetarian options), and you're downtown-- go here!  While the food may not be knock your socks off amazing, or be a little bland on the spicing, it's still tasty and will fill you up.  

Still looking for truly amazing Indian food in Chicago, though.

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Photo of Shradha A.

Elite '09

79

462

Shradha A.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
Updated - 7/15/2009

Finally got an opportunity to take advantage of their free home deliver and ordered a naan, dahi, daal banjara and kashmiri naan.

The daal banjara gave both of us a mild stomach ache and the kashmiri naan was weird and nothing like it's description on their menu!

The delivery happened real quick though and because we still don't trust their billing, we decided to pay in cash upon delivery rather than giving them our credit card over the phone.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/3/2009

    In all honesty, I boycotted this place for a year because they always systematically overcharged us… Read more »

Photo of Kim J.

Elite '09

59

364

Kim J.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
5/21/2009

After a fun night at the ER at Northwestern, the bf and I stopped here for dinner.  

Apparently, the buffet is the way to go here, but we were too late for it.  Our a la carte items were tasty - nothing spectacular, mind you, but good.  The mattar paneer was a bit spicier than I thought it would be, but the chicken vindaloo was a lot less spicier.....WTF?  (Maybe the cook got the recipes backwards?)  

Service was a-ok, and the price was right.  Though they charge extra for rice.  Anywhere that doesnt include rice automatically goes down a star in my book.

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Photo of Y C.

 

6

83

Y C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
7/26/2009

I went to this place at the suggestion of my Chicago friends who happen to be Indian and vegetarian. I tried a lot of their vegetarian dishes and they were pretty good. The thalis (kind of like a combo meal) are a good option for people who want a little bit of everything and come with the most popular selections. Their saag paneer is fantastic, one of the better versions I've had.
If you want Indian food in downtown Chicago, this would be a good option.

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Photo of Melissa M.

Elite '09

313

117

Melissa M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
4/27/2009

I absolutely love Indian Garden.  I think it's a bit expensive for Indian, but it's great quality and always consistently good.

The Naan is fantastic and I always get the Chicken Tikka Masala. Check it out!

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Photo of An P.

Elite '09

265

331

An P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
5/31/2009

So I had never really gone to an Indian restaurant before. I've had curry and random Indian food at various parties, but I have never gone out of my way to eat Indian. I once listened to NPR once and a piece describes that after age 47, most people that age stop exploring new food and new music.  With that nugget of information, I was glad to pop my Indian restaurant cherry at Indian Garden.

We had a table of about 10 or 12 people and the entire restaurant was very ornate with Indian art on the walls. In the waiting area there are plenty of seats, a coatcheck, along with a bar should you feel like imbibing. After being seated, we checked out the menu and ate the bread appetizer that they served up quickly.

I ordered some Aloo Tikka and Seekh Kabob and a giant bottle of Kingfisher. The service was great and my water glass was never empty no matter how much water I drank. The Aloo Tikka is a fried potato dish and was so tasty that I did not bother to share any with anyone else at the table. Some other people at the table ordered some appetizer and ordered too much and I was able to dip my bread and eat some more.

The Seekh Kabob was excellent and nicely charred. The meat wasn't chewy or bony and was marinated to a state of deliciousness that I must learn how to cook. I have a greater interest of learning how to cook Indian cuisine thanks to Indian Garden. Great place for groups, even though it is a bit pricey.

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Photo of Lyndsey M.

 

1

9

Lyndsey M.

Harris, TX

5 star rating
8/22/2009

A lot of times on Yelp I feel like I'm being too generous with my five-star ratings, but when I restaurant sticks with me this much, I've got to give them credit.

I ate here with my dad once (he takes all of his clients regularly, but I'd never been) and I really loved the food. I had my birthday dinner here -- they were able to accommodate 14 of us on Valentines' Day night, despite the fact that I had called and changed the number of people coming twice in the previous week. The service was great (I got a teensy cake and everything). It made me wish I weren't a poor college student -- I would have forked a ton of cash on top of that gratuity if I could!

I've never had the buffet, but the menu is really fantastic -- pages and pages of great stuff, and tons of vegetarian options. Most of the items are pretty reasonably priced, others (mango lassi, some of the breads) are a bit expensive.

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Photo of Sonia C.

Elite '09

133

438

Sonia C.

New York, NY

2 star rating
3/7/2009

There must be better Indian food to be had in Chicago.  The food here is palatable, but not very impressive.  Service leaves something to be desired too.  The only thing good about this place is the decor and I go to restaurants for food only.

I came here in a group of five on a Saturday night.  The restaurant was decently full, but not crowded.  The waiter took our drinks and appetizers orders and then disappeared for 30 minutes.  We tried to flag down other waiters to take our entree orders, but they just ignored us.  Finally, the waiter came with our apps, by which time I was very exasperated.

We had:
- appetizer sampler: basically just a dish of mostly battered & fried vegetables with one samosa and a few chunks of dry chicken and even drier lamb.  The only good thing was the samosa, and despite my love for anything fried, there is only so much fried batter I can handle.
- saag paneer: very oily, with chunks of tasteless cheese.  I usually love this dish but this dish was just a pile of tasteless, oily, mushy spinach.
- chicken vindaloo: basically the only dish I liked.  It was very spicy (as expected) with chunks of very tender chicken.
- some curried shrimp dish: I don't think that the shrimp were very fresh and the sauce was only ok.
- garlic naan: soft, pillowy, hot.  Ok, fine, I did like this a lot too.

Portions aren't that big, but the food is heavy and filling.  Prices are decent.  However, due to the uninspiring food and lackluster service, I probably will try other Indian restaurants before coming back.

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Photo of Peter L.

Elite '09

19

120

Peter L.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
8/15/2009

Been here a couple times for dinner.  Decent Indian food at prices you'd expect for the area I guess.  But in terms of the lunch buffet, India House's buffet kills this place, no question, in terms of quality and variety.

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Photo of Christian P.

 

10

43

Christian P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/20/2009

I went there on a Sunday for lunch. The buffet was pretty cheap and the food was good. I'm surprise to find such a good deal in downtown area. I will go there again if I'm too lazy to go to Devon.

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Photo of Jen E.

Elite '09

32

258

Jen E.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/2/2009

Solid Indian restaurant in near north side. Tried the chicken tandoori and the black lentils in tomato sauce dish, and both were great. Very tender and flavorful. The lamb samosas are amazing, especially when mixed with the green sauce that comes out with the complimentary bread. Service is standard Indian, i.e., staff lurks throughout meal, but very friendly. Our server talked us into getting the naan, and I'm glad we did. Appetizer, two entrees and naan will run you about $40, so this isn't a huge bargain or anything, but the price is on par with quality.

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Photo of David N.

 

5

23

David N.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/7/2009

If you are in the mood for Indian food, this is one great place to come to.  The first thing you notice when you walk in is the great smell.  They have some great scented incense and candles burning that smell incredible.  The place is so well decorated, it is very pleasant to be sitting in a dining room surrounded by such great Indian decor.  The food is very good, and a great selection to pick from.  I had the Palek Paneer which was very good.  For an appetizer my partner and I tried the Samosa, which is a deep fried pastry cone stuffed with potatoes and peas.  Definitely a place worth checking out.

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Photo of Sara F.

Elite '09

25

229

Sara F.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
3/3/2009

I wen there a few weeks ago for a friend's b-day. Sitting a table of 15 was no issue with a reservation.

It's a neat place and the second floor location makes it feel tucked in and nice once inside.

We tried so many different thigns off the menu I have trouble remembering all we got but of the 10 or so things i tried I LVOED them all!

For desert the Mango ice cream is the way to go.

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Photo of Ryan B.

 

2

24

Ryan B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
2/24/2009

I have never had real Indian food in my life. Ever.

I had no clue what to expect. We looked at their restaurant week menu and liked it because it seemed you could get a good sampling of their dishes which seemed perfect for a first timer. Away we go!

It's located across from Kamehachi and on the second floor next to West Egg Cafe and Tim O'Toole's. Very inviting dining room with a lot of colors, murals, and candles. We were seated promptly (without mentioning the reservation via Opentable) towards the back - the dining room is actually quite big and spans all the way to the corner of the building. We were greeted promptly and I asked for the restaurant week menu. Our server Dan (first three letters of his name, sorry!) hesitated before getting the menu. He came back and explained that the menu was so much food it could easily feed two to three, but he couldn't split it. He recommended the $16.95 House Specialty plate which included more entrees than the RW menu had. He said it would be a great way to try a lot of things - sold!

We spent some time translating the RW menu from the regular menu, so we new what to expect. We had the #4 appetizer (fried potato and veggie rolls) and then a cart full of deliciousness. Lamb curry, chicken & mahi served on a steaming platter, this delicious pea/tomato sauce dish, naan, and basmati rice. Freaking perfect! I could not have asked for a better sampling of food. We took most of it home. We even ordered this orgasmicly sweet dessert - like hot doughnut balls in a saffron/honey sauce. AMAZING.

We had two very full glasses of wine. All of this = $41 before tax. Without the wine it would have been only $25 and change...how can you beat that?

I will be back and you should be too. Great first time impression. Good, helpful service, great food, and you can't beat the price!

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Photo of Drea E.

Elite '09

18

55

Drea E.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
4/20/2009

We met Sunday for brunch at Indian Garden.

I am not usually thrilled by Indian Buffets, but I loved theirs.  There was tons of variety, and it was all very tasty.  Not a lot of filler.  

Don't try to order a mimosa with your brunch- they won't even know what you are talking about, try a King Fisher instead.

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Photo of Gerry A.

 

6

46

Gerry A.

Barrington, IL

2 star rating
5/15/2009

Well, we just got back from lunch and for you Entertainment Booklet Fans, they do NOT EXCLUDE The lunch buffet in the booklet/menu like http://Restaurant.com does for those restaurants who exclude the lunch buffets; they just wait until you have finished and presented you the bill to inform you that "YES, YOU are Stupid" because even though it says dine anytime lunch or dinner, the KEY word is entree. (We EVEN had the Entertainment Book WITH us but hadn't decoded the entree jargon). They say "the lunch buffet is a Series of entrees" BUT "you can still use your card ANOTHER time". I said "NO, WE like to be kissed when somebody does that to us".

Pros: VERY tasty. not overseasoned or over"fatty". Excellent tandoori chicken and medium curry catfish, plentiful hot naan. VERY Smiley Staff who smiles and says "yes" when you come in and ask if they take the Entertainment Card, and  then $miles bigger and says "no" after you have ordered&eaten the $13 lunch buffet that they say is a "Series of entrees", not AN entree. (you fool).

Cons: Pricey, up 2 steep flights of stairs, sticky table, Horrible "included" faux-diet coke? fine print jargon. Parking Nightmare DAY AND night.
I felt talked down to and not kissed. Seeya.

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Photo of Robin W.

Elite '09

60

191

Robin W.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
1/6/2009

Ordered delivery and was a more than a bit disappointed.
The driver had tude dropping off, even though I tipped him 30%. The masala was salty, not spicy. Totally bland compared to other local spots.

Maybe things are different when dining in, but I was not impressed.

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Photo of Jeff L.

Elite '09

21

161

Jeff L.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
7/13/2009

Indian Garden is a wonderful example of how a restaurant can have the good, the bad, and the overpriced. The lunch buffet is wonderful. They do not have a large selection, but they have plenty to eat regardless. When eating here for diner without the buffet the items on the menu are delicious. The only downside is that it seems they do not use the greatest quality in meat, but the sauces they serve are delicious regardless. Which is why I think this restaurant is overpriced due to the fact that the meat they serve is not the greatest cuts of meat. The appetizer platter is also delicious.

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Photo of eileen b.

 

39

161

eileen b.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
1/15/2009

I was remembering the awesome Chicken Tikka Masala at my favorite San Francisco Indian spot, Mehfil, and became determined to find a comparable match in Chicago. So I went to Yelp (of course) and found Indian Garden, which has now become my official go-to Indian restaurant in downtown Chicago.

Indian Garden is near the movie theatre and makes for a great dinner-movie night. The decor seems like it was imported directly from Mumbai, successfuly transporting to an exotic Indian destination. The waiter gave me great recommendations, including a mild coconut milk curry that I wanted to drink out of the bowl. And of course, the Tikka Masala. It was buttery and spicy and perfectly paired with my Mango Lassi. Mouth-watering.

While I loved most of what I've eaten there, I recommend avoiding the free dips, especially the one that has garbanzo beans and olive-looking things. I expected it to taste quite different and was so disgusted that i had to spit it out in my napkin. Not very pleasant. Besides that, Indian Garden has an extensive menu and I plan to return for further exploration. I suggest you visit and do the same.

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Photo of Tera H.

 

9

31

Tera H.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
12/19/2008

This was a pleasant suprise... I was a little suspicious because it isn't on Devon Ave. and most of the other restaurants  in the neighborhood are terrible, relying mostly on the tourist trade.

However, the delivery I ordered was better than expected, hot and accurate.
Chicken tikka masala- thumbs up. Dal makni- also great (could have used a wee more ghee though)

It is a bit pricey but if you are craving Indian and can't drag yourself up to Devon, it's a great option.

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Photo of Kwoky L.

Elite '09

30

214

Kwoky L.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
7/12/2009

I had the lunch buffet and it wasn't particularly impressive. There were really not that many things to choose from. I would only come back if I have to.

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Photo of Animesh g.

 

10

1

Animesh g.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/13/2009

Kadhai chicken and pudina paratha is awesome.......

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Elite '09

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Matthew G.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
2/11/2009

I have been to the Indian Garden a grand total of three times for the lunch buffet.  My most recent visit will probably be my last.

As a rule, I am not fond of buffets, but I generally like Indian buffets.  I LOVE Indian food, so a buffet allows me to have a little of everything without having to decide on one entrée.

That said, I have found the Indian Garden's buffet to be sorely lacking.  Things that are supposed to be hot are cold and vice versa.  They don't seem to change things out enough. There is not much variety.  I think that many Indian dishes benefit from having some "stew time", but the IG's buffet items seem to be congealed and dried up.

I can't say much about the service as I've only had the buffet.  Stellar service and buffets do not usually go hand in hand.  As long as my water and iced tea glasses are kept full, there's no reason to complain.

Perhaps dinner service is better.  I should probably try it, but am afraid that I'd rather pass.  The package just doesn't appeal to me very much.

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Elite '09

25

114

Nastassia J.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/12/2008

I used to f 'ing love the Indian Garden. It was my GO TO place.  I know its a chain, and I know there is probably much more authentic Indian places to go, but man I really loved their food.  Murg Chili Masala was my fav and their Naan was to die for.  All past tense now since I've left the neighborhood and feel it would be quite a shame to eat at a chain since I now live much closer to Devon (aka Nirvana.)  

Funny story though...they used to have this kinda wacky bartender who worked at this location.  I once went in to order food to go...and he's trying to upsell me a liquor drink while I waited on the food.  After saying "no thanks" a dozen or so times, he says, and I quote, "How about something light, like a Long Island Ice Tea?"  Needless to say, my husband and I laughed about that for years...and apparently still find it funny to this day.  anyways, thats neither here nor there...bottom line, the food is good, albiet a bit expensive.

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Elite '09

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185

Ben K.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
5/18/2009

Pretty much anybody who wants to stuff themself full to the brim in a delicious hedonistic feast has given indian buffet a shot before.  Indian Garden has a buffet that is decent but unspectacular.  The highlight is definitely the chicken tikka masala; it has a delicious creamy spicy sauce that does pretty well seeping over your entire plate and infusing its wonderful flavor into your basmati rice and your naan.  As for the rest of the buffet... well there isn't much else.  There are maybe five or six entrees and some soup and some yogurt... if not for the tikka masala I probably would not ever go here.  As it is... well let's just say the walk up the stairs before the meal has been known to be easier than the walk down the stairs afterwards.

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Meredith K.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
3/26/2009

The atmosphere is really nice, I liked being on the second floor and having an elevated view.  Its cozy without being overly romantic.  Good if you're not sure if you're on a date or not.  

Solid food.  The spicy dish was a teeny bit too spicy and the not spicy could have had a bit more flavor.  But that's my only complaint.  And the lovely owner/manager (?) came over when we were finished and asked if we enjoyed everything and invited us to stay as long as we wanted.

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Elite '09

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215

Karen T.

Washington, DC

3 star rating
8/2/2008

BF and I left my condo around 7pm on a Saturday night looking for a cheap-ish (under $20/person) sit down dinner. This place was one of the few non-pubs around that doesn't require a reservation at this time/day.

Yes, IG is average compared to Devon, but it's more affordable than typical streeterville. Split the Chicken Tikka and Mattar Paneer, with a side of basmati rice. Finished it all, no leftovers and really full...but i was really surprised to see the check come to about $20/person, without drinks even. Service was as great as they say though.

First-timers:
*like a traditional chinese family style dinner, it's best to go with a group, order many dishes and share them. though at a chinese restaurant a giant pot of rice would be $2, and here it was $4.

*Anticipate the spice factor. if you are like me and love spicy food, but can't eat a bag of flaming hot cheetos without sweating like you've just run a mile, DON'T come here on a first date. Even the mattar paneer had me dabbing at my forehead by the end of the meal, but luckily BF and I are past that stage where I'd be embarrassed.

*Food coma aspect: BF has been passed out cold for the last half hour. it's 10 PM. I'd call this the equivalent of a double cheeseburger and fries from MCD. Don't take your sig. other here if you plan on watching a movie after it; he probably won't make it through the previews.

I'll be back when I'm in a group too lazy to drive up to Devon.

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Chris T.

Orange County, CA

3 star rating
2/24/2009

I've been here more than a couple times for lunch. It's a buffet so I always find an option I love. It's reliable because there are so many food choices. It's not spectacular, but it is good for what you pay.

Only thing keeping it from 4 stars is my last visit where the waitstaff put the wrong amount on my card and told me I'd have to take it up with the manager in order to fix it,  and one of the pieces of silverware had something foggy on it.  Stuff like that always bothers me to no end.

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